Evangelidis co-sponsors legislation to protect minors online

BOSTON— State Representative Lew Evangelidis (R-Holden) is co-sponsoring legislation titled An Act to Prohibit the Electronic Transmission of Harmful Material to Minors, in response to the Supreme Judicial Court’s recent ruling in favor of a child predator who had been sending sexually explicit content online. The man, who had attempted to lure an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old girl into sexual relations, had his convictions thrown out.

The legislation would expand the statute by prohibiting the dissemination of harmful material to a minor via instant messaging or other online communications.

Evangelidis said he was particularly concerned that state statute has not been updated to reflect society’s current electronic age.

The court ruled that the legislature must take action if it wanted to ensure that children are protected from predators seeking to electronically disseminate obscene material.

Evangelidis, a former assistant district attorney and assistant state prosecutor, said, “As a father of two, I know how worried parents are regarding the Internet and all of the dangers that can emerge from behind the computer screen. The court has given the legislature clear direction to resolve this loophole.”

The bill is already garnering bipartisan support as more than a dozen lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have signed on to co-sponsor the bill.